Should I stay?

[ThorntonOL]

Have been debating on whether to renew or not.
Reasons not to stay:
1. Everyone I knew when i started are just about gone.
2. I learned more about planes in my school work than in CAP.
3. To many seniors in the same specialty tracks.
4. Church provides as much socialization.
5. Did and learned more through school trips than in CAP.
6. Money could be used better elsewhere. (Not enough bang for the buck.)
7. For the price of uniforms I could by three times as many Sunday best.
8. I already have a pastor who does a good job teaching moral leadership.
9. I travel about two hours round trip to meetings for a two and a half hour meeting in which I sit and do pretty much nothing.

Reasons to stay?
1.?
2. ?
3.?

Ironically I don't have any reason to stick with the program, money is better spent elsewhere as is my time.

Anyone one willing to talk me out of this?

[a2capt]

1. Everyone I knew when i started are just about gone.

Thats not a reason for anything by itself, but .. lets see what else is here:

2. I learned more about planes in my school work than in CAP.

Okay, teach some of that to the cadets.  They'll appreciate it.

3. To many seniors in the same specialty tracks.

Tell me it's not AE?

4. Church provides as much socialization.


More socialization isn't a bad thing.

5. Did and learned more through school trips than in CAP.

So, you have experience, bring some of it up, as a project officer, do some of that, arrange it for the unit.

6. Money could be used better elsewhere. (Not enough bang for the buck.)

That might be part of a show stopper, then again, it's a few burgers, coffees' or pizza's. I think it's a great trade off.

7. For the price of uniforms I could by three times as many Sunday best.

After almost a year, I'd presume you have some uniform by now. Also, you can find stuff on eBay, other units, other folks who have moved on, or whatever. Ya don't need 'em all.

8. I already have a pastor who does a good job teaching moral leadership.

How about a second view, then?

9. I travel about two hours round trip to meetings for a two and a half hour meeting in which I sit and do pretty much nothing.

You get out of the program, what you put into it. Thats just the way it is. Become a driver, and steer the unit in a different direction. Sounds like thats what it needs, if you say most everyone has left .. probably for similar reasons.

Chart a course for change.

[Al Sayre]

The first thing I tell new members is that you get out of the organization what you put in.  I also tell them that if you want to fix a problem you have to get close enough to turn the wrench.  So define what you see is the problem, and propose and implement a solution.  If you have a valid concern, take it up with your CC.  He should be willing to listen to all of the members and address their issues as best he can.  Leadership of volunteers is much different than leading employees or military personnel since they can vote with their feet.  You have to provide them an example, and set your standards, they have to be willing to follow that example and meet the standards.  If they don't, then you need to be willing discuss the differences with them and determine a compromise position that will accomplish the mission.

[dwb]

There are always opportunities on the Group and Wing staff if you want to continue to participate in CAP.  No, I'm not joking.   It sounds like you're not getting a lot out of your squadron, but it's not the only charter number you can belong to...

[Major Lord]

You might consider just taking a break. You may have CAP Burnout Syndrome (CBS) Leave for a couple of months, reflect on what you liked doing with CAP, and come back and do the things you liked. Odds are, the Squadron you left will not be the same as the Sq you come back to.

Major Lord

[jeders]

Ironically I don't have any reason to stick with the program, money is better spent elsewhere as is my time.

Anyone one willing to talk me out of this?

I had the same dilemma a few months ago. The only reason I had to stay was, "I'm the Commander and I have to renew." I was just getting burned out on CAP and for the same amount of effort going in, I was getting a lot less out. Now, I've handed over the reins to someone else and am stepping back a little and it's letting me put things into perspective.

My advice would be, first go to your commander and see if there isn't something that can be done or that you can do at the meetings to make it more interesting. If that fails, take a little time off and see if that helps. But no matter what, let your leadership know, one-on-one, that you're not very interested in how things are. The worst thing that happens is when people leave and the leadership has no idea why, and so they can't fix it.

I hope that this helps.

[Pylon]

What?  You're not getting a boatload of camaraderie from CAPTalk?!   

Maybe you do want to take a break.  You could also switch to Patron status during your break so your membership keeps up and you can still attend social functions like Wing Conference, but you're saving on dues money (it's significantly cheaper as a patron) and you won't have to maintain a uniform.

As Dan also suggested above, maybe switch up the scenery.  A new group of people, with new personalities and new potential, and different things to do at the Group or Wing HQ.  If either are within your AOR, consider checking them out too.  Maybe you just need a different unit and different group of people for now. 

[MIKE]

Take a break while keeping your membership up.  Did this twice myself.  First time I took a year or so, then changed squadrons.  Second time I gave it a few years before deciding not to renew.

[RiverAux]

Anyone one willing to talk me out of this?

Nope, if you aren't getting what you need out of the program and aren't willing to step up and try to instigate what you think needs to be happening then nothing anybody can say to you will make it worth your while to stick around. 

[Flying Pig]

Ironically I don't have any reason to stick with the program

I have found CAP has seasons in peoples lives sometimes.  I let my membership lapse and took a complete 5 year break once. Actually, not a break, because I had no intention of rejoining when I let it lapse.  So you never know.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Ironically I don't have any reason to stick with the program

I have found CAP has seasons in peoples lives sometimes.  I let my membership lapse and took a complete 5 year break once. Actually, not a break, because I had no intention of rejoining when I let it lapse.  So you never know.

People seem to burn out for a number of reasons. Some burn out due to lack of interest/activity, I've had burn out points due to high activity. You either stick with it, or you don't.

[Pumbaa]

Just let mine lapse for many of the same reasons, I have no intention on coming back.

Don't need to play military, I am on base everyday and walk and talk with Real Military(TM).

Got tired of the outlay of cash, and then being hamstrung in fund raising.

Uniforms?  I think there are enough threads on that

Only received one call back from a squadron 1.5 hours away when I relocated to another state last summer.  The other squadrons never replied back to my inquiries.  Guess they did not need a qualified observer, CD, Aerial photographer for coastal patrol.  oh yeah PAO, safety, Deputy commander.. I suppose I don't have anything to bring to the table.

If squadron POC's can't make the effort to return phone calls and emails, I don't want to be a part of them.

Nothing for me to learn, I've taught.

Pretty soon i will be deleting my link to CT.

My season is done.

[Flying Pig]

Just let mine lapse for many of the same reasons, I have no intention on coming back.

Don't need to play military, I am on base everyday and walk and talk with Real Military(TM).

Got tired of the outlay of cash, and then being hamstrung in fund raising.

Uniforms?  I think there are enough threads on that

Only received one call back from a squadron 1.5 hours away when I relocated to another state last summer.  The other squadrons never replied back to my inquiries.  Guess they did not need a qualified observer, CD, Aerial photographer for coastal patrol.  oh yeah PAO, safety, Deputy commander.. I suppose I don't have anything to bring to the table.

If squadron POC's can't make the effort to return phone calls and emails, I don't want to be a part of them.

Nothing for me to learn, I've taught.

Pretty soon i will be deleting my link to CT.

My season is done.

Why wait?

[Майор Хаткевич]

Why wait?

^ Just about every post I've seen by Pumbaa is about how he will not be/has not/is happy about not renewing his membership.

[High Speed Low Drag]

Why wait?

^ Just about every post I've seen by Pumbaa is about how he will not be/has not/is happy about not renewing his membership.

... her ...

[Flying Pig]

CAP is a volunteer organization.  Nobody forces anyone to be here or stay.  I will freely admit I am here for my own selfish reasons.  And while my selfishness is being fulfilled, I also do my part for the program itself.  They help me, I help them.
If your not happy with the organization, either change it, accept it, or move on. 

[shorning]

Why wait?

^ Just about every post I've seen by Pumbaa is about how he will not be/has not/is happy about not renewing his membership.

... her ...

Really???  http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=135.msg6829#msg6829

[Chappie]

Not here to talk you into staying or out of leaving...the choice is definitely yours.  There have been a couple of occasions when I considered not renewing my membership.  Won't go into the reasons...but there were sufficient grounds to leave.  However, the question was raised by one of my confidents as to why I joined the organization in the first place.  After rattling off several reasons, the question posed was "Has any of those changed?"  The reasons I joined in the first place were still valid....nothing had changed.  This person also shared that CAP is not a static organization but that it can and does change -- sometimes slowly and other times very quickly.  In all honestly, had I left when I was seriously considering it, I would have missed out some of the best opportunities for service that I have enjoyed in CAP.  "Semper Gumby"

[lordmonar]

Lt Thornton,

Are you a cadet or a senior member?

I ask because it sounds like the program you are in is a cadet program.

While it is not a bad thing for seniors to want to get something out of CAP like aerospace education or character development and socialsation........that is not really the focus of the senior program.

Our main goal IMHO is to develope officers so that they are ready to fulfill the mission.  The question is...which mission/missions do you want to fulfil....and what have you done to help that process along?

Bottom line......if you are not satified with CAP,  take a break.  You can go whole hog and resign, let your membership laps, or even just not show up for awhile...but remain a member.

I take it you are fairly young and you may be reassess your lifes priorties....this is a good thing....but no one here on CT really has enough information to help you make this decision.

Assess what you want out CAP....look to see if there is anywhere in the organisation (up, down or side) that may help fulfill those wants and needs.....if we can't...then it is time to move on.   

[RADIOMAN015]

Gee, I don't see the squadron weekly meetings as the primary indicator of anything, especially at the senior level.  Generally, most of my volunteer staff work is done at home, with the exception of training seniors & cadets on operating the squadron radio stations (as Comm Officer) and maybe taking some pictures for an upcoming article/press release, etc (as PAO).   

As a volunteer you can choose to do what ONLY INTERESTS YOU.  IF you are bored than apparently you are doing something you don't enjoy. You should be doing something you ENJOY.  CAP isn't a job you have to slave at even if you don't like it just to earn a living.

You really don't have to go to the meeting every week.  We have some senior members that show up 1 or 2 times per month and do what they have to do.     Commander's need to certain function done it doesn't necessarily mean a senior member just attend every meeting.

Socially wise, CAP is one social circle, and surely many members will have other circles e.g. work, neighbors, church, etc.

Uniform wise, why not just wear the golf shirt & grey pants, black shoes, etc.   It is still a CAP uniform :angel:.  There's absolutely no reason to have every possible uniform combination, and as everyone knows if you go with the AF type uniforms, there's significant costs when adding various outwear and hats.

RM